Hair waving device



April 14, 1942. KANTOR 2,279,997

HAIR WAVING DEVICE Filed Dec. so, 1940 INVENTOR fpvvAw/mwa/e,

Patented Apr. ,14, 1942 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE l l t i 2,279,997 l a HAIR WAVING DEVICE EdwardKantor, New York, N.

Application December 30, 1940, Serial No. 372,244 eoiaims- (o1. 132-48) This invention relates to an improved device for clamping a strand of hair in tion to produce a wave. l

Clamps of the general class of hair wavin devices in which the present invention falls have heretofore been proposed but suchclamps have provided merely some means for clamping a hair wave formed by extraneous means, usually manfolded condiually, prior to application of the wave clamp. j

Also, prior devices have been objectionable because of the nature of their clamping action, since such clamping action frequently produced broken hair and exerted harmful action on the hair, bothfrom the standpoint of actual mutilation of the hair and from the standpoint of the i kind and quality of wave produced.

. By means of the novel wave clamp of my invention, a device is provided which cooperates not only to clamp a hair wave but to preliminarily produce, by simple manipulation of the device, a fold in a strand of hair, whichmay then be clamped in the device with extreme facility and in a manner, which is not injurious to the I hair itself and results in the production of a natural and attractive wava One of the signal advantages resulting from the use of the device of my invention resides in the fact that it may be manipulated entirely with one hand, both in the production of a fold in the hair and insubsequent clamping ofsuch fold automatically in proper position in the device. i

My invention provides a unitary device which includes, in combination with a pair of releasable clamping jaws, an elongate rod or bar as of wire which rod has a free endwhich may be engaged under a strand of hair by a simple movement of therod along the scalp of the subject. This rod is so disposedwith respect to the pair of clamping jaws as to automatically dispose the fold portion of the wave at thecorrect position in the clamp. The operation of pick ing up a strand of hair with the rod is effected with the clamping jaws open and in a preferred form the jaws are resilientlyurged to closed position so that the jaws aremanually held open 1 during the hair gathering or picking-up operation. Subsequent release of the jaws results in automatic closure of the jaws over the fold of hair and the aforesaid rod and the wave is then of Fi 1.

of the solution usually used in setting the wave.

A further advantage present in the device of my invention results from the fact thatthe hair pickingrod is so arranged with respect to the clamping jaws as automatically" to assume a 'position midway between the clamping jaws when the'jaws are opened. 1

In using the device ofmy invention th plu rality of adjacent hairs inthe strand which is to be waved are regularly and uniformly. arranged and gathered by the smooth and continuous rod and the clamping elements are like-i wise continuous and uninterrupted throughout their lengths so that the wave produced is 1 smooth and continuous throughout, the gathermg and locating rod andthe clamping elements of the present invention cooperating ideally to I the desired end.

The hair supporting rodof the form of my invention disclosed herein is so arranged as to serve the auxiliary function of an assembly means for the clamping elements and as a support for the resilient means provided for biasing the clamping elements to closed position. In

this way a device is provided which comprises only {our parts, and efficiency and economy .of manufactureof a high order are attained.

Numerous other advantages present in my invention will occur to those skilled in the art from a perusal of the following specificationof an exemplary embodiment thereof, together with the accompanying drawing. i

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a preferred form of the device of my invention; i Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the clamping elements of the device separated.

Like characters of reference denote like parts throughout the several figures of the drawing, and the numerals I B and II designate opposed clamping-plates which in the preferred form are elongate and curved in the direction of their length to approximate the curvature of the human head, as appears best from a consideration The clamping plates l0 and II may be formed of metal or other suitable material.

vIt is desired that the plates IEI and ll be readily movable to and from clamping position with respect to each other and to this end they are provided with extensions designated l2 and I3, respectively, and each ofsuch extensions has a pair of marginal. ears l5 directed toward the other extension. The two pairs of marginal ears I5 are coaxially perforated to receive a rod designated I8, which rod secures the pairs of ears I5 for relative pivotal movement about the axis of the rod.

The flaring disposition of the extensions I2 and I3 provides manually engageable means for conveniently pivoting the clamping plate portions I0 and I I away from and toward each other by successively compressing and releasing the extensions I2 and I3. Resilient means are provided for yieldably urging the clamping plate portions III and II' toward each other upon release of manual pressure from the extensions I2 and I3. Such resilient means may comprise a torsion spring 20 disposed about the rod I8 between the spaced pairs of cars I5. The opposite ends 2| and 22 of the spring 20 engage against the extensions I2 and I3, respectively, as appears best in Fig. 2.

According to the teachings of my invention, means are provided for conveniently gathering a strand of hair in a novel manner and for disposing such strand of hair in proper position to be clamped by the plate portions I0 and II. It is intended that such gathering of a strand be effected with the clamping plate portions III and II relatively separated, as shown in Fig. 4.

I have found that an extremely economical, simple and practical construction of my device is arrived at by combining such strand gathering means with the rod I8 which serves as the pivot for the clamping plate portions. To this end an angular extension 24 is provided at one end of the rod I8 and such extension terminates in a return bent rod 25 which preferably extends substantially the full length of the clamping plate portions I0 and I I. The rod portion 25 is preferably disposed at a point substantially spaced from the pivot rod I8 whereby the rod portion 25 is freely exposed when pivotal movement of the clamping plate portions I0 and I I brings them to 1 their separated position (see Fig. 4)

It is further desired that the rod portion 25 be spaced a substantial distance in from the lower curved edge of the device when the clamping plate portions II] and I I are closed upon each other, as appears from Figs. 1 and 3. It will be noted that the rod portion 25 is shown in the drawing as preferably curved throughout its length to conform to the curvature of the clamping plate portions I3 and II, which curvature further facilitates movement of the rod portion 25 along the human scalp.

The terminal end portion of the rod 25 is preferably formed downwardly as at 25 and has a slight return upward curvature 21 to provide for a sled-like action of this terminal portion along the scalp, whereby hair may be efiiciently picked up from the scalp without danger of injury in movement of the device along the scalp with the portions 23, 21 of the rod 25 forming the leading end.

It will be noted that the clamping plate portions In and II are medially bulged somewhat as at 29 and 3% respectively, to provide housing space for the rod portion 25. The outer marginal portions 3| and 32 of the clamping plate portions are flared somewhat to avoid any cutting or bruising contact of the outer edges of the device with the hair. Bumps or protuberances 33 are formed inwardly on the clamping plate portions I0 and II as shown in Fig. 1, and such protuberances prevent unintentional movement of the outer free end of the rod portion 25 outwardly with respect to the clamping plate portions when the latter are in clamping position.

It will be noted from a consideration of Fig. 4, particularly, that the ears I5 are so proportioned that, when the clamping plate portions are moved to separated position, the upper marginal edges of the ears I5 engage a return bent terminal portion 35 of the pivot rod I8 and by such engagement restrain the terminal portion 35 and consequently the rod portion 25 against movement from a predetermined medial position. The rod portion 25 is thereby substantially centrally disposed automatically upon opening of the clamping plate portions II) and I I by manual compression of the extensions I2 and I3 toward each other.

Substantial longitudinal openings 35 and 31 are formed in each of the clamping plate portions III and II in the region which is normally occupied by the rod portion 25 when the clamping plate portions II) and I I are closed. In this way nearly all of the hair which is disposed in folded condition over the rod portion 25 when the device is in use with the clamping plate portions closed, is exposed at the points where bending or waving of the hair occurs. In this way free access to such portions of the hair may be had for rapid drying of wave-setting solutions, either by natural or artificial means.

Use of the device of my invention is simple in the extreme and requires the employment of only one hand of the operator. This permits the use of a comb with the other hand of the operator, and, in, cases of self-use, facilitates the employment of a hand mirror in connection with use of the device.

The extensions I2 and I3 are grasped between the thumb and fingers of one hand of the user and compressed against the resilient resistance of the torsion spring 20. It will be noted that when the clamping plate portions It and II are fully separated as in Fig. 4, the rod portion 25 is disposed wholly below a line connecting the outer free edges of the plate portions I0 and II. This leaves the arm portion 25 entirely free to be manipulated on and along the scalp without interference.

The operator then slides the rod 25 under a strand of hair to be waved by moving the device to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. In this way either a wide or narrow strand of hair, as desired, may be slid over onto the rod portion 25. After this has been accomplished the manual pressure upon the extensions I2 and I3 is merely relaxed and the clamping plate portions I53 and I I are automatically and resiliently moved to approximately the position indicated in Fig. 3, the clamping plate portions being perhaps slightly farther apart than there shown because of the presence of the strand of hair which is thus folded automatically over the rod portion 25. After the wave has had sufficient time to set, the waving device of my invention is merely removed in a manner which is believed to be obvious.

A single specific embodiment of the teachings of my invention has been illustrated by way of example, but my invention is not to be considered as limited thereby or otherwise than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hair waving device, a pair of elements hinged together to provide clamp portions adapted to be moved to and from clamping engagement with respect to each other, a rod extending between said clamp portions substan' tially parallel to the axis of the hinged connections of said elements, said rod being secured to said pair of elementsat one of its ends and having its other end free whereby, when said clamp portions are moved from clamping engagement, a

strand of hair maybe picked up with said rod 2. In a hair waving device, a pair of elements hinged together and each having portions lying on opposite sides of the axis of the hinge, the portions at one side of the axis of the hinge comprising clamping portions adapted to be moved to and from clamping engagement with respect to each other, the portions of said elements disposed at the other side of the axis of said hinge being normally divergently disposed when the clamping portions are in closed clamping engagement, whereby such diverging portions may be manually moved toward eachother to open said clamping portions, resilient means normally urging said clamping portions to clamping position, and a rod extending between said clamp portions substantially parallel to the axis of the hinge and spaced therefrom, said rod being secured to said pair of elements at one ofits ends and having its other end free whereby a strand movement, yieldable means normally urging said clamping elements to closed, clamping position,

for maintaining said rod substantiallymidway between said clamping elements upon opening of said clamping elements.

4. In a hair waving device, a pair of elongate clamping elements hinged along a longitudinal edge of each for pivotal opening and closing movement, yieldable means normally urging said clamping elements to closed, clamping position, and a hair pick-up element comprising a rod extending longitudinally of said clamping elements and therebetween and spaced from said hinge, said rod being supported by said clamping elements at one of its ends and having its other end free whereby a strand of hair may be picked up with said rod with the clamping elements open and remain disposed thereover to be clamped in folded condition upon movement of said clamping elements to closed position, and means for maintaining said rod substantially midway between said clamping elements upon opening of said clamping elements.

5. In a hair waving device, a pair of elongate clamping elements hinged along a longitudinal edge of each for pivotal opening and closing movement, yieldable means normally urging said clamping elements to closed, clamping position, the clamping portions of said elements being curved lengthwise to approximate the curvature of the human head, and a hair pick-up element comprising a rod extending longitudinally of said ,clamping elements and therebetween and spaced from said hinge, said rod being curved similarly to said clamping portions and having one free end and one end supported by said clamping elements, and means for maintaining said rod substantially midway between said clamping elements regardless of the degree of opening of said clamping elements.

6. In a hair Waving device, a pair of elements hinged together to provide clamp portions adapted to be moved to and from clamping engagement with respect to each other, a pivot pin for proa pair of handle elements, one secured rigidly to i each clamping element, said handle elements normally extending divergently away from said clamping elements at the opposite side of the hinge, a hair pick-up element comprising a rod viding hinged connection of said elements, one end of said pivot pin extending outwardly from the hinged connection and having a return bent portion disposed between said clamp portions parallel to the pivot pin portion and spaced therefrom to provide ahair lifting rod, the other end of said pivot pin being engageable by the said pair of elements to hold said hair lifting rod in a central position with respect to said clamp portions when said clamp portions are moved apart to expose said rod for hair lifting operation.

EDWARD KANTOR. 

